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In an interview with Politico, NARAL President Nancy Keenan said the group’s nine-member political action committee chose Obama after extensive deliberation that included studying the two Democratic candidates’ delegate counts (both pledged and superdelegates), their viability in a matchup against the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, and their cash on hand.

Keenan noted it’s not the first time the national organization has endorsed early in the Democratic primary process. NARAL endorsed Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts when former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards was still in the race in 2004, she said, and chose former Vice President Al Gore over former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey in 2000.

But what about the two candidates’ records on women’s reproductive health issues? Did Obama’s voting record give him an edge with NARAL’s PAC? Most people contacted for this story said no, that both Obama and Clinton solidly support abortion rights. In fact, many contend Clinton wins on the issues, both for her longer record and the intensity of support. They especially cite her work on over-the-counter sales of the so-called “morning after” pill. In 2005, she and Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray together blocked the nomination of Lester Crawford as a commissioner on the Federal Drug Administration until the FDA ruled that emergency contraception pill could be dispensed over the counter to adult women without a prescription.

“The real differential, in my book, is her tremendous work on getting emergency contraception approved,” said Conlin, calling the FDA’s eventual approval the “most important advance for reproductive rights in a decade.”

But there was something larger at work in this endorsement, Keenan said. “Right now, when you have the mobilization of a new generation of people coming and participating in this democracy, there’s a moment when they are listening, and in my judgment, they are listening now.”

When asked about affiliate directors’ concerns about losing donors, Keenan was reflective. “We did not go into this not knowing that there are consequences. Politics are about choices. ... What is missing here is, this is not a spectator sport. When you’re involved in politics, not everybody is happy, and you just have to recognize that.”

Schroeder, a longtime Clinton supporter, remains skeptical about the timing. “If you really thought one was better than the other, you endorse on Day One,” she said.

Even some Obama supporters, while ultimately believing that their candidate is the strongest on these issues, were unhappy with its handling, said Conlin. “The supporters of Obama that I know on our board and in our membership thought it was ill-timed and ill-advised and really antithetical to people coming together in common purpose to beat John McCain,” she said.

Given the “massive healing” needed to keep Clinton’s staunchest women supporters in the fold should Obama become the nominee, Conlin said, the endorsement was like “throwing a flaming spear into a tinderbox of raw emotion.”

The Obama endorsement is not the first controversy Keenan has faced as president of NARAL. In 2005, her group withdrew an ad accusing then-Supreme Court nominee John Roberts of “supporting violent fringe groups and a convicted bomber” following protests from abortions rights supporters and opponents alike. At the time, Keenan said the ad had become “a distraction from the serious discussion” the group hoped to have with the American public.

In response to the current controversy, Keenan says people will get over their “broken hearts.”

“At the end of the day, the heart heals and you get on with the business of politics and what’s doing right by the country,” she said. “It’s the old Montana saying: You dust yourself off, and you get back in the saddle.”

If senator Obama does not offer the VP spot to Hillary Clinton, he will not president of the united states.

He won the nomination, but he lost every major primary, and Clinton got just as many votes as he did.

You cant just blow off a 20 year loyal support to Bill and Hillary Clinton like this.

The Clinton supporters are not 3month supporters the same way the Obama supporters are. They have been Clinton supporters for 15 years. If Obama, Kerry, Kennedy et al try to move Bill and HIllary out of the party to the sidelines, he cannot win the general election.

She can reject the VP spot, but if he doesnt offer it to her, or says ' she didnt want it ' or some other lame exuse, he will lose.

Ha....Who was it that said if you cant stand the heat get out of the kitchen? It was the woman who should of stayed home and baked cookies. I used to hate the clintons, but now I love them. Obama used to scare me, but no more. My man McCain is on the train to the white house and we can finally get some conservative values back. The clintons have divided the party and shown BO is a very flawed candidate. All these women are staying home because the ol boys wouldn't let them in the clubhouse. I'm glad they're staying home. Please do. McCain will get 2 supreme court nominees and we can finally overturn letting women murder innocent children (roe v wade). Plus I dont have to worry about my taxes going up to pay for healthcare. You want healthcare?...get a job and pay for it. I see more woman and Hillary supporters saying they wont back Obama. Good, John McCain needs your vote. I just watched 2 woman on the O'Reily show last night say because of the dnc's sexist approach to this election, they are organizing thousands of women in FL, OH, MI, and PA to actively campaign against Obama. Talk about idiots cutting off their nose dispite their face. However, I welcome it. A party divided stands no chance in November. All the congressional gains the dnc is making wont matter because a republican will still be in the white house. God Bless America.

The Media (especially MSM), DNC, Obama and his supporters have really done Hillary dirty. NARAL will regret this move. I support all Hillary supporters who refuse to support OBama and his Militant wife.

The NARAL endorsement of Obama is only the tip of the iceberg of the backlash you are going to see against Obama and the biased sexist treatment Hillary Clinton has received in this Primary.

Hillary Clinton is ahead of Obama in the popular vote. She will add thousands more votes after the upcoming primaries in KY, OR, Puerto Rico, MT and SD. Still she is dismissed and Obama propped up as the nominee apparent.

There's big backlash trouble brewing . Clinton supporter's are sick and tired of the ultra-biased mainstream media, DNC, pundits, pollsters that have tried to shove Obama down the voters throats while Senator Clinton has been the target of unprecedented bias, sexism and misogny. Her supporters are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. We will not sit idly by and let Obama be forced upon us.

Obama is unelectable in November. Hillary Clinton is the most qualifed candidate to get our country back on the path to peace and prosperity.

GREAT !! Another classic example of great uniting capabilities of BO. 'Uniter' is the most meaningless word in this campaign. What next BO? Which building Blocks of the Democratic Party you are going to divide next ???

Hillary Clinton has always supported causes NARAL represents. And if she's as good and ethical as her supporters claim, she'll do what's right for women and support Obama if he wins the Democratic nomination.

Remember, the Obama campaign is more about us taking our government back than it is about his presidential race. Change We Can Believe In!

WOMEN are not the only groups which will not VOTE for OBAMA. Latinos will will not Vote for him....OBAMA has no integrity, and that constant whining is so unmanly.... God knows you OBAMA supporters have endeared yourself to the rest of us... If the shoe fits wear it Deary

Obama will not get my vote if Hillary is not on the ticket. She deserves it, she has earned it, she will always look out for women's rights, not only here in the US, but also around the world, where many groups of women are still virtual slaves. It would be an injustice for Hillary not to give her the VP. Imagine if the situation were reversed. Would anyone dare keep Obama from the VP position?

It's sad how few people can separate themselves from their ideas and step back and see a bigger picture. Presidents always say the media is against them. Those who lose say the world is prejudiced against them, those who win think the world is fair and recoginizing their inherant worth. Yes there is sexism and white, black, brown and yellow racism. If nothing else Barack Obama is a symbol we are making progress in overcoming some of the racism in this country. For that matter, so is the fact that Hillary Clinton came so close to the nomination. No matter your political party everyone in America should be proud of the progress we have made in the last 50 years. Relax!

Hillary Clinton has always supported causes NARAL represents. And if she's as good and ethical as her supporters claim, she'll do what's right for women and support Obama if he wins the Democratic nomination.

As far as wondering why NARAL would support her opponent, look no further than Hillary's negatives and the effect her candidacy would have on the rest of the elections next fall, including local and national races. Hillary Clinton is the GOP?s main Get Out The Vote strategy, even more so than their anti-gay, anti-choice strategies have spurred their followers to vote in the past. Right wing voters don?t just dislike her, they actively despise her! The truth is, either of our candidates can beat McSame next fall. Ironically, if Hillary is our Democratic nominee, she will engage the GOP?s conservative base, costing us the chance to clean up our government and get the majorities we need to resolve the issues that affect women the most.

This year we have the unprecedented opportunity to fire all the Bush-policy rubber-stamping & obstructionist Republicans in Congress and replace them with Democrats who can get us out of Iraq, enact true election reform, and get big business out of our government. Many conservatives are so uninspired by McSame they?ll either go for Obama or just skip the vote. Meanwhile, new voters motivated by Obama can help us elect 10-20 new Democrats in Congress and the Senate. Unless Hillary is still running, of course. They'll vote in droves to ensure she doesn't win the Presidency, especially during a time of war. While at the polls, they?ll also vote for all those obstructionist Repugnant Senators we?d like to fire. Compare that to the millions of new voters that will be at the polls if Obama?s our candidate. That?s got to be scaring the financial interests that back people like Bush, McSame, Clinton and Senators who vote for tax breaks for the rich and ?Stay the Course? in a war without end.

NARAL did the right thing. Their endorsement of Obama will further our cause by enhancing our chances of firing Republicans who have long stood in the way of American women.

Now Hillary Clinton should do the same and start getting her supporters on board with Obama?s Yes We Can. movement. At this point, we could easily lose the momentum Obama has built with new and re-engaged voters if Sen. Clinton wins the nomination through trickery or deceit. It?s time to unite behind one Democratic candidate, and racism be damned, we have to take a stand and move forward.

Remember, the Obama campaign is more about us taking our government back than it is about his presidential race. Change We Can Believe In!

. NARAL didnt consult their state branches, whom are now furious. I guess you havent been keeping up to date with this.

Only Oregons state branch supports the endorsement. All the other states are up in arms.

Tap dance it all you want.

The Obama supporters think the Clinton support is as flimsy as their support to Obama. Obama supporters are NEW supporters. Most of them didnt know who he was 8 months ago.

The Clinton supporters have been so since 1992. Its a far bigger challenge to convert those supporters to a Liberal newcomer.

If Obama doesnt offer the VP spot to Clinton, then they are truely in for some uphill dogfight to win them over. Its just common sense.

Hillary Wins.....GET LOST! You are as stupid as the other women who claim to be all up in arms over NARAL's decision. The dude is a pro-choice candidate through and through AND he's winning, but you still have a problem with the endorsement. You didn't say the same when EMILY backed Clinton...a long time ago! This just proves you women are chauvanists and bigots too! If men were acting like this there'd probably be a riot.

You know what you guys are a bunch of cry babies who always want things your way. Stop being hypocrites and find something constructive to do with your life. NARAL should stand tall and tell EVERY last woman who doesn't not want to donate or help out in any other way for the cause, then they really weren't for the cause in the first place and to tell them to also GET LOST!

Yikes, are you sure you're a Democrat? If you're so ****ed at Obama supporters that you'll vote for McSame to spite them, then I have to say you're either not thinking or you don't really care about women or the future of our country.

I find it highly amusing to read the comments blasting Former President Clinton and Hillary, and COMING FROM DEMOCRATS!!! Talk about eating your young. I can understand that some in the party could support a different candidate but the level oif vitriol being visited upon the Clintons, who, you might remember, single handedly saved the democratic party from complete IRRELEVANCY 16 years ago, is just astounding. To say that there is no loyalty in the Democratic party is putting it mildly. What a bunch of hypocritical ingrates. This will come back to bite you in the #ss!